Junior wide receiver Derek Glasgow, a returning starter for the Trailblazers, is viewed by some as a Division-I college prospect. / Ron Holman

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1. Leadership and work ethic

Golden West coach Paul Preheim can’t stop gushing about the leadership and work ethic on this year’s team. When comparing it to year’s past – well, there is no comparison. “This year the kids have just worked their tails off,” Preheim said. “I am so happy to be involved with this group of kids. It’s a complete turnaround from last year… It was like pulling teeth sometimes last year trying to get people to work hard. Our worst practice this year would have been an outstanding practice last year.” Golden West only features six different seniors in its starting varsity lineup. The Trailblazers also welcome a freshman class coming off successful years at the youth levels, and the current youth teams are already making noise this season. It all points to potential for big gains in years to come if Golden West can develop all that rising talent ahead of time. Bringing in former Tulare Western coach Steve Chamalbide to coach the freshmen will certainly help that effort. Golden West plays a brutal schedule – so brutal that Preheim knows his team could vastly improve and still not win any more games than the one it took last season. With so much young talent in the system, the coach appropriately referred to 2013 as a rebuilding process. The Trailblazers seem to be on the right path, but most of the tangible gains may not show up until next year. Judd Post will be Golden West’s main man under center, but Preheim hinted at the prospect of rotating two other players – Quadre Ford and Steven Alva – into the position on a consistent basis to run specific packages. That will certainly keep defenses on their toes and make the Trailblazer offense a little tougher to prepare for. Hopefully all the rotating won’t create a lack of continuity that negatively affect their side of the ball. This may seem superficial, but Golden West needs a new image around town. In the past, the Trailblazers have seen too many football players that should be in their program end up at other schools. Changing the perception of the program should significantly curb that trend and even the proverbial playing field. Preheim believes that shift is already taking place internally and at the youth level, but it needs to spread externally.

2013 Schedule

SEPT. 6

at Kingsburg • Golden West tries to avenge its 62-22 loss in last year’s series opener against the then three-time defending Valley champs after dropping a longstanding series with Tulare Union. Twenty two points was the most GW scored in any game and accounted for nearly half of its season point total. Kingsburg has only lost two home games since 2006. SEPT. 13

MISSION OAK • The Trailblazers won the series opener 27-22 in 2010, but lost their last two games against the Hawks by a combined score of 130-9. Last year’s loss marked the first of six shutout losses for GW. SEPT. 20

at Reedley • This is the first of three consecutive road games for the ‘Blazers. Golden West’s only win last season came here in a 7-0 home victory to break a 3-game losing streak in the series. SEPT. 27

at Delano • Last nonleague game of the season. The Tigers currently ride a 5-game winning streak in this series after last year’s 42-0 shutout, the first of four shutout losses in a row for Golden West. OCT. 4

at Redwood* • Trailblazers close out a stretch of road games with its West Yosemite League opener. The Rangers have outscored Golden West 162-24 during their current 4-game winning streak against the ‘Blazers. OCT. 11

LEMOORE* • This is the first of three consecutive home games for Golden West. The Tigers, who have not lost to GW since 2008, were one of three teams to be the ‘Blazers by at least 55 points last season. OCT. 18

HANFORD* • The Ballpups have not lost to Golden West in the last decade, and have outscored the ‘Blazers 84-2 in the last two meetings. The Trailblazers last beat Hanford 33-28 in 2002. OCT. 25

HANFORD WEST* • Golden West snapped its streak of four consecutive shutout losses during last year’s 40-6 defeat to the Huskies, one of the few teams the ‘Blazers boast a winning record (7-3) against in the last 10 years. NOV. 1

at Mt. Whitney* • The Pioneers gave Golden West its worst loss of the season (68-0) last year as one of four teams to score at least 60 points against GW. This is another team riding a 4-game winning streak against the ‘Blazers. NOV. 8

at El Diamante* • The Miners reclaimed “The Saddle” with a dominant 61-16 victory after losing to Golden West in 2011 for the first time in six years. The ‘Blazers gave up 477 points in nine losses and totaled 51 points in the four games they scored. *Denotes West Yosemite League game HOME GAMES IN CAPS

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